Will Robben be given a Bayern lifeline after Champions League exploits?
As Arjen Robben fired Bayern Munich to the Champions League crown it seems the troubles of last season had all been forgotten. The Dutch winger had missed a penalty in extra time against Chelsea in last year’s final which the Bavarians went on to lose on penalties and was booed by his own fans in the friendly between Holland and Bayern a week after the final. There were even rumours of him not being a team player after spats with Thomas Muller and Franck Ribery in the build-up to last year’s final.
This season, Robben has only been able to break into the first eleven due to a season ending injury sustained by advanced playmaker Toni Kroos at the beginning of April. Robben took advantage of the young Germans’ misfortune with two stunning displays in the famous mauling of Barcelona in the semi-finals and a match-winning display against Borussia Dortmund in the final.
The rumours of him moving away from the Allianz Arena in the summer are still there with Galatasaray and Manchester City amongst others bring touted as rumoured destinations. He is obviously a player that does not suit new manager Pep Guardiola’s style but the Dutchman has proven this season that he can perform on the biggest stage of them all.
Whether Bayern can let go a man who scored the winning goal to give them their first Champions League win in 12 years is a tough question. It seems very likely that Robben will leave on this high after banishing the ghosts of the 2010 and 2012 Champions League finals and the 2010 World Cup final by producing a match-winning display. The Dutchman will no longer be remembered for his failures by Bayern fans as he will always be the man who made Bayern the European Champions and because of this, it may be the right time to leave and start a new chapter in his career.
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